Parrot AR Drone 2.0

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The parrot AR drone 2.0 as the name suggests is an upgrade to the original parrot drone which had it’s debut at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in 2010. As you would expect, a 2.0 device is an improved version of the original product but is usually aimed at fixing flaws in the latter version rather than replacing the whole product line. This drone however achieves the unexpected, by swiftly updating its older sibling with reinvented features like the new HD camera and overall improved hardware. Even though the AR drone 2.0 is not a completely new concept, it boasts some significant transformation over the older model.

Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Features

The Parrot AR Drone quadcopter is certainly not a buy-and-play device for the fact that it has quite a number of distinct features that enthusiasts need to master before getting the hang of it. For a first timer, there are bound to be some bumps here and there before everything becomes a smooth flight. Action of wind can also be a draw back to the navigation of the drone but otherwise, the lightweight parrot 2.0 is easy to fly and comes preloaded with some pretty handy features.

The most useful builtin component of the parrot AR drone 2.0 is its pressure sensor that works to keep it stable in the air. Typically, the drone can remain vertically stable up to 164 feet high in the air (as stipulated by the manufacturer). Moreover, the drone is also fitted with 3-axis gyro, magnetometer and accelerometer that simplify control. It has also been programmed to carry out automated maneuvers such as the midair flip which can be executed by double tapping the touch screen of the control iOS or Android device.

The AR 2.0 drone's camera is capable of capturing HD video at 30 frames per second while beaming it directly to the control device. This is a superb feature especially if the control device is a tablet or a smartphone, since the pilot gets a bird's eye feed from the drone's camera. The beamed video is also conveniently recorded into a built-in USB drive or alternatively onto the control smart-device. This might be a rather controversial feature to privacy advocates but it outwardly defines the drone as more than just a recreational device.

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 Fascinating Points

With the option to control the drone from a smartphone or tablet, its maneuverability is radically enhanced. This comes courtesy of the rich interface that defines the parrot AR drone 2.0 control app. To some extent though, the interface may be intuitive as well as somewhat wearisome. The device sensors are put to good use in that the drone tilts the same way the tablet or smartphone does. This implies that to move the drone forward, the control device has to be tilted forward. Similarly, to pilot the drone in any other direction or combo of directions, the smart-device should be tilted accordingly.

When its boils down to flight stability of the parrot AR drone 2.0, its pressure sensors superbly deliver on the promise of a steady ascent in calm conditions. The stability is achieved with a slight delay at first although brief and barely unnoticeable. Moderate winds therefore have a degree of influence on its rise by making it lose altitude abruptly but it swiftly re-establishes its stable hover.
In software terms, piloting the quadcopter is made a breeze through the app and sharing of videos on the Android platform is seamless via the YouTube portal. Pictures can also be shared to multiple social networks with similar convenience while flight achievements can be unlocked by connecting to the online AR drone academy.

Ultimately, the parrot AR drone 2.0 can achieve all these flight functions in an average time of between 20-25 minutes which is rather modest for a recreational device. Other than being a remote controlled aircraft, it can also function as a hybrid simulation gaming device with a number of augmented reality multiplayer games. More so, through the drone's GPS integration with control devices, users can effortlessly geolocate their AR drone 2.0 via its Black Box.

The Parrot AR Drone 2.0 quadcopter is therefore a fun and fully fledged out-of-the-box device which is bound to get better with future updates. That being said and the fact that it is an unchallenged device both in terms of price and functionality, the Parrot AR Drone worthwhile investment for children and adults alike.

Another quadcopter that is worth a look especially if you want to fly further or higher is the DJI Phantom. The DJI Phantom comes with it's own 2.4ghz transmitter and the DJI Phantom Vision also include a camera that connects to your iPhone or iPad to view and capture video instantaneously.